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News and Research
Science-backed Information for Better Care
ScienceWorks is a modern telepsychology practice offering evidence-based care for: Autism & ADHD, Anxiety & Depression, OCD, Trauma, Insomnia, Kids & Families, and more.
These conditions frequently co-occur, can be difficult to diagnose, and also difficult to treat - often requiring specialist knowledge and direct clinical experience to achieve the best possible outcomes.
That's why research and training are the foundation of our work.
Our goal is sharing our knowledge with our friends, clients, and partners to build a stronger, more informed mental health community.
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Menopause Brain Fog vs ADHD: What “Counts” as Impairment in an Assessment
If you’re stuck on menopause brain fog vs ADHD, the deciding factor in an evaluation is often functional impairment: how much symptoms disrupt work, home, and relationships over time.

Kiesa Kelly
5 days ago7 min read


Low-Demand, Autonomy-Supportive Therapy for PDA-Style Demand Avoidance: Low Demand Therapy Demand Avoidance
If you’ve lived with PDA-profile demand avoidance (in yourself or in your child), you already know the frustrating paradox: the more someone pushes, the less it works. What looks like “refusal” or “opposition” on the outside is often an internal nervous system threat response to demands —especially when those demands feel trapping, controlling, or impossible to escape. This is where low demand therapy for demand avoidance can be a game-changer. A low-demand, autonomy-suppo

Ryan Burns
Dec 15, 20259 min read


ERP at Home and Online: How Telehealth ERP Therapy Works Between Sessions
Online ERP therapy lets you do exposure and response prevention where OCD actually shows up—at home and in daily routines—while staying connected to a qualified therapist in Tennessee. Learn how telehealth ERP sessions work, what to practice between visits, and how to stay safe and supported.

Kiesa Kelly
Nov 26, 20256 min read


Practical Supports for Pathological Demand Avoidance in Neurodivergent Families
Many families are desperate for something more helpful than “be consistent with consequences.” For autistic demand avoidance, PDA support strategies rooted in safety, autonomy, and collaboration reduce power struggles and open practical pathways to "yes" at home and school.

Ryan Burns
Nov 18, 20257 min read


PDA, Anxiety, or “Oppositional”? Making Sense of Demand Avoidance
Many children and adults who show demand avoidance are not "oppositional" at all. For some, pathological demand avoidance—a profile linked with autism and anxiety—explains why simple requests feel like danger. This article explains pathological demand avoidance, anxiety-driven avoidance, and ODD-style "oppositional" patterns so you can recognize what’s really going on and consider next steps for support.

Ryan Burns
Nov 18, 20258 min read


PDA and ADHD: When Demand Avoidance Shows Up in an ADHD Brain
PDA and ADHD can look similar, but they’re not the same. When demand avoidance in ADHD is driven by overwhelm—not defiance—supports that lower perceived threat and protect autonomy work best. Learn how to tell ADHD from PDA-style demand avoidance and what actually helps.

Kiesa Kelly
Nov 18, 20257 min read


When Sleep Apps Aren’t Enough: Why Evidence‑Based CBT‑I Still Leads the Pack
Evidence-based insomnia treatment works best when data meets human guidance. This post explains why CBT‑I outperforms sleep apps alone, when to use digital CBT‑I, and how therapist‑guided care—like telehealth sleep therapy with Ryan Robertson—drives lasting gains.

Ryan Burns
Oct 16, 20255 min read


Seasonal Stress Reset: Light, Sleep, and Small Habits for Darker Months
Seasonal stress light therapy habits can make winter easier. Learn what seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is, how circadian rhythm shifts in darker months, and which small routines—morning outdoor light, 10,000‑lux light boxes, steady sleep/wake windows, movement, and screen‑time boundaries—help you reset and feel better. Evidence‑based and practical, from ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare.

Ryan Burns
Oct 15, 20255 min read


Masking & Burnout: Understanding Autistic Camouflaging
Autism masking burnout happens when long‑term camouflaging, sensory load, and social pressure outpace support. This guide explains camouflaging, sensory debt, safe‑to‑unmask spaces, and energy‑based planning—with practical steps and when to seek assessments, therapy, and coaching at ScienceWorks.

Ryan Burns
Oct 14, 20256 min read


Emotion Regulation Tools for Kids: Scripts You Can Use Right Now
Emotion regulation tools for kids don’t have to be complicated. This guide gives parents simple co-regulation scripts, sensory ideas, and quick steps to help kids calm down, reset, and build emotional skills that last.

Ryan Burns
Oct 13, 20255 min read


From Meltdown to Reset: A Science‑Backed Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Child meltdown co‑regulation helps calm the amygdala–prefrontal circuit so kids can reset rather than escalate. Learn what’s happening in the brain, how co‑regulation works in practice, and ScienceWorks’ step‑by‑step plan to turn meltdowns into teachable moments—and long‑term emotion regulation skills.

Ryan Burns
Oct 12, 20255 min read
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